Layla Moran, who represents Oxford and Abingdon in the UK Parliament, shared a sad story about her family in Gaza. Her relatives, including a grandmother, son, his wife, and 11-year-old twins, have been stuck in a Catholic church since the conflict started. They sought safety there after their home got bombed in the war’s first week.
The situation got worse recently. Layla’s family reported white phosphorus and gunfire in the church compound. Tragically, two women were shot and killed, and seven others got hurt, trying to protect people in the church. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said there were no warnings – they were shot without any notice.
Communication with Layla’s family is hard because the generators stopped working. An Israeli tank hit the compound, causing a fire that destroyed the generator. Now, some people can’t use their respirators.
Layla spoke about her family’s desperation, saying, “It’s been over 60 days now, and it’s just getting worse and worse.” Sadly, her grandfather died because he couldn’t get medical help. Layla explained that the elderly in the church can’t leave to find safety because of ongoing strikes. Last Friday, heavy bombing wounded three people and destroyed solar panels and water tanks in the church compound.
Adding to the sadness, Layla’s family told her about two men – a bin collector and a janitor – who were shot and left uncollected outside the church. Layla mentioned that those in the church don’t know why Israeli forces are targeting them.
“I’m now no longer sure they are going to survive until Christmas,” Layla said, expressing her worry about her family’s fate. This heartbreaking story from Gaza shows how regular people suffer in conflicts, and the pain continues to grow.